Canada Supports Urban Development Projects

On the occasion of Canada hosting the third World Urban Forum this week in Vancouver, the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation, announces that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will provide over $14 million to several urban development partners for projects that seek to improve local governance and the local environment.

"Helping local governments to be more accountable in delivering services to their citizens will provide long-term benefits," said Minister Verner. "This funding demonstrates Canada's commitment to supporting initiatives that will help achieve tangible, effective results."

The following organizations will receive financial support from CIDA over the next three to five years:

• Institute of Public Administration of Canada. IPAC has helped improve the capacities of public servants so that governments can better deliver their mandates and foster sustainable progress.
• Canadian Urban Institute. CUI shared experiences learned from its projects in the Philippines at a workshop organized for Hat Yai, Thailand. The CUI program in Iloilo, Philippines, received a citation by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities as a good model for addressing issues of urbanization, population and poverty.
• Sustainable Cities Foundation. SCF has worked with municipalities and local community groups to develop and implement local community-based environmental management plans for urban greening and trained marginalized populations in areas of environment management and poverty reduction as well as in safety and health.
• Rooftops Canada/Abri International. Rooftops Canada has helped people to secure land and build housing in urban centres.
• A collaborative initiative between the University of British Columbia and the Brazil Ministry of Cities. The goal of the New Public Consortia for Metropolitan Governance project is to reduce poverty in the peripheries of Brazil’s metropolitan areas by improving regional and municipal planning and contributing to grass root's development.